Latching mechanism for drawers and the like



March 14, 1944. J. R. JoNlv-:s ET Al.

LATCHING MECHANISM FOR DRAWERS AND THE LIKE Filed March 17, 194] 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 14, 1944. J -R ONES ETAL LATCHING MECHANISM FOR DRAWERS AND THE LIKE Filed March 17, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,7/5 l: C' O o a7 Patented Mar. 14, 1944 LATCHING MECHANISM FOR DRAWERS ANDl THE LIKE James R.' Jones, Lakewood, and Levi M. Hultberg y and Victor A; Grunberg, Jamestown, N. Y., assignors to Art Metal Construction Company,

Jamestown, N. Y.

Application March 17, 1941, Serial No. 383,726

This invention relates to latching or securing ymechanisms for drawers and other closure members.

In drawer ling cabinets, particularly those of fireproof type which have walls Vof re resistingI leasably retaining the drawers closed and also for closing the drawer heads tightly against cooperating seats surrounding the open ends :ofthe drawer compartments in order to effectively-close kthe compartments againstl the entrance orpassage of names or hot gases.

An object of this inventionis to provide novel improved latching means for filing cabinet drawers and other closure members adapted to .accomplish these results.

Other objects of the invention arel toi provide a latching mechanism of novel construction which operates automatically to hold the drawer closed and is readily operable for releasing the drawer and, in addition, for rmly pressing the drawer head against its cooperating closure seat to insure an effective closure of the drawer com- .vpartment;also.to provide a practical and desirable'latchingfmechanism including an operating handle which, by movement thereof, acts to unvfasten the drawer, andA by a diiferent movement thereof, functions to press the drawer head tightly against its closure seat.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following specification of the preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in the accompanying drawings, and

the novel features. of the invention are setforth in the appended claims.

Insaid drawings:

Fig. 1 is a transverse, sectionalv elevation through a le drawer on line I-- I, Fig. 5, equipped with latching mechanism embodying the invention, and showing the latched position of the parts.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, similar View showing the released 4position of the parts.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, similar view showing the latch moved to the position for pressing the drawer head against the cooperating closure seat.

Fig. 4 is a Ysectional plan view on lined-Il, Fig. 3, but showing thenormal latched position -of the parts.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of one catch and keeper on line 6 6, Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view, showingthe relation of the catch with its keeper when the drawer head has been forced-in against the closure seat.

The drawings-illustrate the application of the improvedlatching mechanism to a drawer of a re resisting or heat insulating cabinet.

Al represents the cabinet and BI adraw'erarranged to slide inwardly and outwardly in a drawer compartment in the cabinet, which is preferably of fire resistingor heat insulating construction. The drawer is provided with a front wall or head C, also preferably of re resisting` or heat insulating construction which, when the drawer is closed, is adapted by Contact or cooperation with a closure seat Aon thewalls of the cabi-net surrounding the' open, front -end of the drawer compartment, to tightly close or seal said compartment. rIhe cabinet walls and the drawer head may be of anysuitable fire, resisting or heat insulating construction; and theconstruction or formation of the closure seatd on the cabinet and the cooperating marginal portions d of the drawer head maybe of any usual or suitable character adapted, by pressing the drawerhead inwardly against the closure seat, to tightly close the joint between the drawer head and the seat. Also the drawer may beslidably kmount'edin the drawer compartment in any suitable way.

As illustrated in the drawings, the latch mechanism comprises .two catch elements Il! arranged at opposite sidesof the drawer and eachadapt'ed to engage and cooperate with a keeper element I I `fixed on the adjacent side wallv of the drawer compartment for releasably securing the. drawer in closed position. Each catch elementi@v is of langle form having a shank or bodyportion' I2 extending transversely of the ldrawer and a rear- .wardly projecting hook I3 at its outer end adapted to engage the companion keeper for holding the drawer closed. The catch 'shank is arranged to slide transverselyparallel with the way Il between the middle portion (of the plate I4 and the wall of the ,drawer head. 'I'he guideway I1,` thus `formed permitshorizontal sliding movements of the catch transversely ofthe ,drawdrawerV compartment.

secured at one end to the front end of a rock shaft 2| which extends through and is journalld in a suitable bearing 22 in the central portion of the drawer head and has a cross piece 23 fixed to` its rear end. The opposite arms of the cross piece 23 are pivotally connected at 24 to the actuating links or bars I9 for Vthe two catches at the opposite sides of the drawer, so that by rocking the handle 20 downwardly, the links and the two catches at opposite sides of the drawer are pulled inwardly, while by rocking the handle upwardly, the two links and catches are shoved outwardly, or away from Veach other.

Each catch is yieldinglyurged or held downwardly by a suitable spring.V For this purpose, a coil spring 25 is shown for each catch, connected atV one end to a stud or projection 26 on the drawer head and at its other end to the catch at a point between the catch pivot and its l outer end, sothat the pull of the spring tends to depressthe catch hook. Each catch hook may be made with a bevelled inner end face 21 adapted, when the drawer is closed or moved inwardly, to engage a laterally projecting part 28 on the .front end of 'the companion keeper and ride up on the same, until the hook clears the part 28, when the spring 25 will pull the catch hook downwardly in rear of the keeper part 28, thus securing the drawer in closed position.V Instead of bevellingV the catch hook, the front end of the lateral projection 2t 'of the keeper could be bevelled to cause the hook to ride over and engage the keeper when closing the drawer. To release the drawer, the operating handle 20 is rocked downwardly, and this, operating through the links I9,.wi1l draw the catches horizontally inwardly out of engagement with the lateral parts 28 of the keepers, `thus disengaging thecatches from the keepers and permitting the opening of the drawer;

As-.before explained, the operating handle 2U is depressed for pulling the catches inwardly to thus disengage them from the keepers, while by .raising or rocking the handle upwardly, it shifts Athe drawerand, consequently, outward sliding movement; of the catch hooks against these inclined faces .will act to forcibly move the drawer inwardly and press the `drawer head tightly against the seat d, thus e'ectually closing the Manifestly, the laction would be similar .if the 'forwardly facing surfaces [Normally the handle`20 and catches III'Y are vmaintained vina middle position in which -the catches engage the keeper parts 2a and hold' the drawer in closed position, andfrom which middle position the catchesv are' pulled inwardly to release the drawer, or are shoved outwardly for forcing the drawer head against the closure seat d'. For thus releasably retaining the operating handle and the catches in this middle position, suitable spring and detent means are employed, which means, as shown in the drawings, are constructed ,as follows: The pivot screw or pin I8 which connects each catch to its actuating link I9 projects into and is adapted to travel in an elongated horizontal slot 29 in the catch guide 'plate I4. A spring wire 30 coiled about the are releasably held seated in these notches by the catch springs 25. The pivots and notches thus vact as detents which releasably hold the handle 28 horizontal and the catches in their middle positions against the tendency of the handle spring 38 to raise the handle and shove the catches to their'outer positions. But by pulling the handle upwardly by hand, the catches will be shoved out andtforceA the drawer head against its closure seat, as before explained, and the catches will be held in their outer positions by the spring 30 to maintain the drawer head in tight contact with its seat.

As shown, the slots 29 in the catch guide plates I4 are made with detent depressions or notches .32 in jtheir upper edges as well as in the lower edges. This enables guide plates of a single form to be used either at the right or left side of the drawer, and avoids the necessity of making right We claim as our invention:

1, In a cabinet having an opening thereinto, and ar closure l,member movable to open and closel said opening, latch mechanism for said closure `member,l comprising a catch and a cooperating keeper, one on the closure member andthe other on the cabinet, said catch being fmovable in one direction into engagement with said keeper for holding the closure member and 'also movable in opposite directions at an angle to said first mentioned direction, `the movement 55'Uof said catch in one of said opposite directions .release the closure member, and the movement fof said catch in the other of saidopposite directions acting by cammingl engagement of the disengaging the same from said said keeper to catch with said keeper to press said closure member against a part of the cabinet to tightly closesaid opening, and actuating means which lare movably Ysupported v and operatively connected with said catch and by movement thereof eifect said movements of the catch.

V2. In a cabinet having an opening thereinto,

and a closure member ymovable to open and close said opening, latch mechanismV for said closure memberl comprising a catch and a cooperating keeper, one on the ,Y closure member and the otheri on the, cabinet,v means acting automati- 'callyby movement of thevclosure member to closedposition to engage the catch with the ykeeper to hold said closure member closed, said catch being movable out of engagement ,withthe keeper toy release the closure member, and said catchV being also movable in a direction ldifierent from its said releasing movement, and acting by camming engagement with a face on said keeper when so moved to press said closure member yagainst a part of the cabinet for tightly closing said opening, and actuatingmeans which are movably supported and operatively connected with said catch and by different movements thereof effect said movements of vthe catch.

3. In a cabinet having an opening thereinto and a closure seat, and a closure member movable to open and close said opening, latch mechanism comprising a keeper on the cabinet having a rearwardly facing inclined surface, a catch on said closure member which is automatically engaged with said keeper to hold the closure member by moving the closure member toward the cabinet, said catch being movable out of engagement with the keeper to release said clo- 'sure member, and said catch being also movable along said inclined surface of the keeper in a direction different from'its said keeper-engaging and disengaging movements and when sc moved acting by engagement with said inclined surface of the keeper to press said closure mem- `ber against said seat, and actuating means movably mounted on said closure member and operatively connected with the catch for effecting said movements ofthe catch.

Y4. In a cabinet having an opening thereinto land a closure seat, and a closure member movable to open and close said opening, latch mechanism comprising a keeper on the cabinet having a rearwardly facing inclined surface, a springactuated catch mounted on said closure member to move vertically and also horizontally, said catch being moved vertically and automatically engaged by its spring with said keeper to secure the closure member closed when the closure member is moved to closed position, said catch being disengaged from the keeper to release the closure member by moving the catch horizontally in one direction, and said catch by movement thereof horizontally in the opposite direction acting by engagement with said inclined surface of the keeper to press the closure member against said seat, and actuating means mounted on the closure member and operatively connected with said catch for effecting said movements of the catch.

5. In a cabinet having an opening thereto and a closure seat, and a closure member movable to open and close said opening, latch mechanism comprising a spring-actuated catch element and a keeper element, one of which elements has an inclined face for engagement by the other element, said catch being thrown by its spring into engagement with said keeper to secure the closure member closed when the closure member is moved to closed position, and an operating handle movably supported and connected with said catch, said handle when moved in one direction disengaging said catch from the keeper to release the closure member, and when moved in a different direction producing a different movement of said catch relative to said keeper in a direction nearly lengthwise of said inclined face, said inclined face acting in said relative movement to press the closure member against said seat.

6. In a cabinet having an opening thereinto and a closure seat, and a closure member movable to open and close said opening, latch mechanism comprising a spring-actuated catch and a keeper one ofwhich has an inclinedfaca'fsad catch being pvotally and slidably mounted, said catch being shifted about its pivot byk engagement with said keeper when said closure member is closed, Vandbeng engaged by'its spring with the keeper to hold the closurememberin closed position, and an operating handle movably supported and operatively connected to said catch, said handle when moved in one direction sliding said catch out-of engagement with the keeper, and said handle whenr moved in `a different direction sliding said catch vrelatively to the keeper, and said inclined face acting in said relative sliding movement to press the closure member against said seat.

'7. `A latch mechanism for a closure member as set forth in claim 6, in which said operating handle is mounted toA rock on the closure member, and a spring and. detent are arranged to ycooperate with saidl handle to releasably retain the handle normallyV in. an intermediateposition.

8. In a cabinet having a closure seat around the open end 0f a drawer compartment in the cabinet, and a drawer movable in the compartment and having a front head arranged to closeagainst said seat, latch mechanism comprising a spring-actuated catch .and a keeper one of which has an inclined face, said catchvbeing pivotally` and slidably` mounted on 'said drawer and being shifted about'itspivot by engagement with the keeper when vclosing the drawer and moved by its spring into engagement with the keeper to hold the drawer closed, a movably vsupported operating -handle connected to the 'cat-ch, said handle-'when moved in'one direction from a normal position sliding said catch out of engagement with said keeper, and said handle when moved oppositely from said normal position sliding said catch relatviely to said keeper and said inclined face acting in said last-mentioned relative sliding movement to press said drawer head against said closure seat, a second spring which is operatively connected with said handle and tends to produce said opposite movement of the handle and catch, and a guide in which the catch slides and which has a notch in which said pivot is held by said catch-actuating spring to releasably hold the handle in said normal position against the action of said second spring.

9. A latch mechanism for the movable closure member of a cabinet or the like having anopening which is closed by said closure member, comprising a catch and a keeper one on the closure member and the other on the cabinet and one of which has in inclined face for engagement by the other, means actuated by closing the closure member for engaging the catch with the keeper to hold the closure member closed, said catch being a single-piece element mounted for different movements, and a catchoperating handle movably supported and connected with the catch, said handle when moved in one direction disengaging the catch from the keeper to release the closure member, and when moved in a different direction, shifting the catch to a different engaging relation with the keeper, said inclined face acting by said shifting of the catch to press the closure member to a tight seat against the cabinet.

10. In a cabinet having an opening and va closure seat, and a closure member movable to open and close said opening, latch mechanism comprising a keeper and a catch, one on the cabinetand the other on ,the..c1osure. member, said catch and keeperhavirig cooperating faces one of which is inclined andsaid catch .being engaged with said .keeper to hold the closure member by the closing of the closure member, and said catch being disengageable fromfthe keeper to release .the closure memberY by movement in a plane disposed at an angle to the plane of movement of the closure member to engage the catch with the keeper, and said catch being movable in a different direction in said second mentioned plane and When so moved acting by camming engagement of said cooperating faces to press said closure member against said closure seat.

11. A latch mechanism comprising a catch and a keeper one on a movable closure member and the other on a seat member for the closure member, said catch and keeper having cooperating engageable surfaces one of Which'is inclined at an angle to the direction of movement of the closure member toward said seat, -said catch being engaged with said keeper to hold the closure member by moving the closure member toward said seat said catch being movable out of engagement with the keeper to release the closure member, and Vsaid catch being also arranged to move relatively to said keeper'in a direction nearly lengthwisev of the camming engagement of said cooperating surfaces and when so moved said inclined surface acting to press said closure member against said seat, and actuating means for effecting said' movements 'of said catch.

12. A latch mechanism comprising a catch and a keeper one on a movable closure member and the other on a closure seat member and, which have cooperating engageable surfaces one -of which is inclined, a guide in which said catch is confined tok slide and also move pivotally in a plane normal to the plane in which the closure member moves toward the seat member, said inclined surface extending at an angle to said plane of movement of Athe catch, said catch being engageable with said keeper by its said pivotal movement to hold the closure member and being disengageable from the keeper member by sliding movement of the catch in one direction to release the closure member, said cooperating surfaces actingvupon sliding movement of the catch in the opposite direction to cam the closure member against said seat meniber, and actuating means for effecting said movements of said catch. i

13. A latch mechanism comprising a catch and a keeper one on a movable closure member and the other on a closure seat member, a guide in Which said catch is confined to slide 'and also move pivotally in a plane normal to the plane in which the closure member moves toward the seat member, said keeper having a surface inclining away from the closure member, said catch being engageable with said inclined surface by its said pivotal movement for holding the closure member closed and being disengageable from the keeper to release the closure member by sliding movement of the catch in one direction, and said catch being cammed` towards the seat member by its sliding engagement with said inclined surface when the catch is slid in the opposite direction and acting to force the closure member against the said seat, and actuating means for effecting said movements o said catch. l

JAMES R. JONES. 4 LEVI M. HULTBERG. VICTOR A. GRONBERG. 

